12 The Date: (2)

After Shao Lin finished her meal, Long Yat-sen took her to finish the gallery walk. He made her try on a VR that was created to engage in three-dimensional environments.

He showed her different realities and sequences, from rainforests to dystopian-looking environments. She played some of the games and explored different worlds and was surprised to see Long Yat-sen enjoying himself like her. But then she realized that this must be his passion. This was his life, and she had caught a glimpse of it.

After they finished, there was still the rest of the afternoon they had together.

Long Yat-sen drove her to a pet store to buy two carts full of items before heading to a pet shelter and donating them. She helped him select the items and merchandise he was going to give away.

The veterinarians seemed familiar with him when they arrived and very grateful for his support. Long Yat-den showed Shao Lin the animals they had and placed a rabbit in her arms. She nestled the animal over the crook of her arm and stroked its fur. Her face flushed as she practically burst with joy.

Long Yat-sen had tried to help her overcome her fear of snakes. He held a small one before placing it onto her hands gently, feeling the scales of its body. She held it shortly before giving it back, but she felt better knowing she had the chance to touch one.

After they wrapped up at the pet shelter, Long Yat-sen took her to watch a short film at a drive-in. He bought her salted pretzels, sandwiches, cotton candy, and fruity drinks to enjoy. Typically it was too much for her to eat, but Shao Lin appreciated that he made sure she had more than enough.

Long Yat-sen sat quietly next to her during the entire movie in the car, the low sound of the film coming from the radio. Shao Lin could not concentrate on anything that was happening, and she did not understand what it was about. No, she could only focus on how the two of them filled the space of the car, how tall Long Yat-sen was that he had to move his seat backward so there would be room for his legs. How his breathing deepened when the scenes got a little too quiet.

She'd occasionally glance at him when she found her mind wandering. His side profile was just as handsome and perfect as his front. His hair was neither too short nor long, and strands of his hair had wound around the nape of his neck and she longed to stroke it.

He casually watched the film, his expression unreadable and unyielding.

Shao Lin went back to stare at the screen and tried to pay attention to the movie when she felt his gaze slid to her. She stiffened.

She tried to pretend she was unaware, but his eyes drifted from her legs to her shoulders to her neck. Wherever he looked, it felt as if he scorched her skin, marked by the weight of his stare.

She tried not to move as she swallowed thickly. Shao Lin did not have much experience with men, which made her senses tingle and more aware. Whether it was from fear or attraction, she didn't know. It felt like the longest hour of her life.

When the movie ended, Long Yat-sen drove them to a theme park for the evening. Her eyes widened when she saw the rides, games, and food stalls.

Shao Lin could not contain her excitement, so she unconsciously grabbed one of Long Yat-sen's hands in hers, dragging him toward the games. He let her.

After walking for a short time, she realized she was holding his hand. When they stumbled on a fishing game, Shao Lin blushed and let go. She stretched her hand and felt as if the warmth of his palm had branded her skin.

Shao Lin tried to focus on the game, collecting some of the plastic fishes with her fishing rod. She eventually rounded enough to win a small keychain.

When they looked around for more, Shao Lin then found a stall with large octopus plushes as prizes, one of which she desperately wanted.

It was a shooting game.

She grabbed a fake pistol in her hand, but her aim was poor and did not strike true. Shao Lin kept trying and failing when she felt someone come up behind her. The weight of him fell on her back, fitting against her perfectly before Long Yat-sen pressed her hand against the cool metal. When the targets moved, he held her hands still. "Shoot," he whispered in her ear. She did.

At that moment, he guided her movements until she was more fluid with her gestures and use of the pistol. When she was ready, Long Yat-sen had let go, making some of the shots independently. Shao Lin finished her rounds, and she hit enough targets to win a small octopus plush. She was happy with the result.

When she made her way to leave, Long Yat-sen had called the stall owner and said, "one more round. For me."

Shao Lin gaped at him.

Long Yat-sen picked up the pistol, observing its material, it's weight, as the stall owner set up the new targets.

When it began, it was already over.

It happened so fast, Shao Lin could not believe her eyes. One moment he was holding the pistol, and in the next, he had hit all his targets with perfect aim and precision. The stall owner's jaw fell open.

Long Yat-sen turned to face her calmly. "Which prize did you want?"

It took her a moment to answer. "The pink angry octopus," she said. He chuckled.

The stall owner was still gawking at Long Yat-sen when he handed over the large plush to him. Long Yat-sen draped it over his shoulders to carry. "It's too heavy to carry. I will give it to you once it's time to leave."

Shao Lin nodded, her eyes still wide. The reminder about how the day was almost over felt like a punch in the gut. She hadn't enjoyed herself like this in a long time.

They continued to walk silently side by side when Shao Lin heard crackling thunder. "Oh no," she gasped.

They ran to find shelter, but they could not avoid the downpour of rain. There was a deserted ice cream shop with a slanted roof that they managed to find. Shao Lin and Long Yat-sen dipped underneath, trying to take shelter.

Shao Lin felt as if her hair was tangled and ruined, so she removed the pins from her half-braid and dropped it. Hair unbound, the waves fell loosely over her shoulders. Long Yat-sen went still.

She brushed her strands when she noticed he was looking at her differently than usual. His normal guarded and reserved had softened, and his eyes slid to her shoulders, toward the hair that curved over her creamy neck.

Her breath stopped short when she saw him take a step forward. He lifted a hand carefully placing it in her wavy-wet hair. He slid his cold fingers over the curve of her ear, and she shivered, pivoting against his touch. His breathing became ragged, and Shao Lin felt as if her sense melted, like she wasn't thinking.

Long Yat-sen brushed his fingers over her hair gently, lifting some strands, his other hand holding her octopus plush over his shoulders. The rain had softened when he pulled out a leaf from a wave. "It was stuck in your hair," he said.

Shao Lin flushed. "Right," she responded bashfully. "Thank you for removing it."

He kept silent, but his dark blue gaze was still on her.

The rain had come to a complete stop, and the sky had greyed and darkened.

"We should go," he said.

They left the theme park toward his car and went home. Shao Lin gave him directions before they remained silent the rest of the way.

As soon as they pulled up on her driveway, Shao Lin told him, "I had a good time today. The best in a long time."

Long Yat-sen's throat bobbed. He looked at her, half-solemn, half-pained. He only nodded.

Shao Lin opened the car door. "I hope to see you again," she admitted.

Long Yat-sen then pulled her by the arm gently, turning her to face him, their faces closed in, lips nearly touching. He looked at her with stormy-blue eyes. "I would like it if you stayed away from me."

Shao Lin scrunched her brows, puzzled. "I don't understand you? I thought perhaps after today that I could let what I have against you go. That I made my mind about you, that you aren't who I thought you were. We had a good time—"

"I played my role as a bachelor," he interrupted. "Everything you thought of what I did today wasn't me. It's what I was paid to do."

Shao Lin bit her lower lip in frustration. She tore herself from his grip, taking the plush with her. "Right. How foolish of me! You know what I think of you, Mr. Long?"

Long Yat-sen's lips tightened. He wasn't looking at her.

"I think you're a coward," Shao Lin said, shutting the door. She then strutted her way back home, stripping down her dress. She took a hot bath, and then she went to bed. She had put the plush on a chair.

Shao Lin had planned to sleep with it, but she couldn't. Not when it reminded her of him.